Jewish Mother to Open Location in Williamsburg

The Jewish Mother’s president signs a 5-year lease Thursday that will bring the company to Williamsburg. (Left to right) Real Estate Broker Vernon Geddy, Company President Scotty Miller, Operations Director Dave Coleman, City Manager Jack Tuttle and Economic Development Director Michele Dewitt. (Courtesy of City of Williamsburg)

The Jewish Mother has signed a five-year lease for the Triangle Building, bringing a new venue for live music to the City of Williamsburg.

The Jewish Mother returns to Williamsburg more than 10 years after a fire destroyed its old location on Richmond Road.

Scotty Miller, president of The Jewish Mother, signed the lease Thursday with the City of Williamsburg for the more than 5,400 square feet of space at the corner of Prince George Street and Armistead Avenue.

The new venue, to be called The Jewish Mother Unplugged, will occupy two of the Triangle Building’s three spaces, with MAD about Chocolate already occupying the third space.

The Triangle Building has not been fully occupied since 2011.

Williamsburg’s Director of Economic Development said the opening of the business, which also has locations in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, would be a welcome change for Williamsburg’s younger crowd.

“Local young professionals tell us that they’d like to see more entertainment and dining options downtown,” said Michele Dewitt, director of economic development for the city of Williamsburg.

Downtown Williamsburg will have more upcoming changes, as the restaurant will be across the street from the future construction of 16,000 square feet of apartments and commercial space to be known as Prince George Commons, and east of the G-Square Redevelopment — 14,400 square feet of apartments and businesses. There is also a publicly funded $870,000 streetscape and stormwater project that will take place in the area.

“The neighborhood is changing in a big way,” City Manager Jack Tuttle said in a meeting with members of the press Thursday.

Dave Coleman, a partner and the director of operations, said the company will renovate the Triangle Building before opening. After it has been remodeled, the new business will have a stage for live music, full professional audio system, restaurant, delicatessen, full bar and outdoor dining area. The restaurant will also have a to-go aspect to offer full rotisserie chickens and a number of other prepared food items.

Because the Williamsburg location is smaller than its other venues in Hampton Roads, The Jewish Mother will likely play host to acoustic performances, but Coleman said the venue will respond to what the public wants. To reflect the smaller space and acoustic style, the company will likely tweak the name to The Jewish Mother Unplugged—similar to The Jewish Mother Hilltop and The Jewish Mother Backstage name concepts.

In its other locations, the company has been known to bring in well-known bands like “Panic! at the Disco.”

Coleman said The Jewish Mother is slated to open March 1 at the latest.